Sail Thailand .

The water goes a shade of green you don't quite believe until you're anchored in it. Limestone karsts rise straight out of the sea, hollowed into caves and hongs — tidal lagoons you paddle into at low water. Between them, longtail boats putter past with their engines tilted up, and the smell off the shore is diesel, salt and grilled fish in roughly that order.

Thailand suits sailors who want short hops between anchorages, warm water every day, and dinner ashore for the price of a coffee back home. It's forgiving ground. Distances are modest, the holding is generally good in sand, and there's always somewhere to tuck in. What it isn't: a place for serious upwind distance sailing or anyone chasing solitude in Phang Nga Bay at midday, when the tour boats arrive.

Two grounds, both worth knowing.

Phuket and the Andaman is the busy one for a reason. From the marinas on the east coast you're a few hours off Phang Nga Bay with its karst islands and hongs, or south to the Racha islands for clear water and snorkelling. Further out lie Ko Phi Phi — beautiful, crowded — and the Ko Lanta group. Ao Chalong and the marinas near Ao Po are the usual departure points; both handle provisioning and clearance without fuss.

Ko Chang sits on the Gulf side, near the Cambodian border, and feels a decade behind Phuket in the best way. Fewer boats, quieter anchorages, and the islands of the Ko Chang archipelago — Ko Wai, Ko Mak, Ko Kood — strung out for easy day-sailing. The Gulf water is warmer and calmer than the Andaman; the trade-off is a longer transfer from Bangkok to reach it.

The sailing season runs roughly November to April, and that window matters. Those months bring the north-east monsoon: steady, dry, and settled, with light-to-moderate breezes and flat anchorages. Mornings are often calm; the wind fills in through the day and rarely gives you more than a comfortable sail.

May to October is the south-west monsoon — the wet season. The Andaman west coast takes the weather full on, with swell into the anchorages and days of rain. Most Phuket charters pause or run reduced through this period. The Gulf side around Ko Chang stays more sheltered but still gets its share of squalls. If you want reliable conditions, book inside the November-to-April window and aim for the shoulders — November and April — for fewer boats.

Water is warm all year, 28-30°C. You'll sail in shorts. Bring more sunscreen than you think.

Most of what we run here is bareboat and skippered monohull and catamaran charter. Catamarans dominate for good reason: shallow draught for the hongs, deck space for the heat, and stability at anchor. Monohulls are available and cheaper, and sail better in a breeze.

Bareboat needs a recognised sailing qualification and a completed sailing CV — see the FAQ. If you'd rather not skipper, a professional skipper comes aboard as crew; you sail, they navigate and handle clearance and local knowledge. A hostess or cook can be added for longer trips. Crew details on request.

Pricing moves with boat size, age and season, so we quote per boat rather than pretend there's a single number. As a guide, a week's bareboat catamaran charter in high season typically runs from the low thousands to well over ten thousand EUR depending on size and specification. A skipper adds a daily rate; provisioning, fuel, marina fees and the national-park entry fees are usually on top. For anything specific, Price on request over WhatsApp and we'll send real figures for real dates.

Budget separately for the park fees in Phang Nga and around Ko Chang — they're modest per person but add up over a week.

Day 1 — Board at the marina, provision, and short-hop to a first-night anchorage near Ao Po or the Naka islands. Swim, settle in.

Day 2 — North into Phang Nga Bay. Anchor among the karsts; take the dinghy or kayak into a hong at low water. Aim to be inside the bay before the day boats and out again after they leave.

Day 3 — Ko Hong and the eastern karst islands. Quiet anchorages, good snorkelling on the reef edges.

Day 4 — South towards the Racha islands. Clearer water here, better visibility for snorkelling and a proper sail if the breeze fills in.

Day 5 — Ko Phi Phi if you want the famous scenery; anchor early to beat the crowds, or skip it for the Ko Lanta group if you'd rather stay quiet.

Day 6 — Work back north, stopping at a beach anchorage for a lazy day — swimming, a shore lunch, an early evening at anchor.

Day 7 — Return leg to the marina, clear up, last night aboard or ashore.

Route it either direction depending on wind and how many boats are about. Nothing here is a long day's sail.

Phuket International (HKT) is the arrival point for the Andaman fleet, with direct and one-stop flights from most of Europe and Asia. From the airport it's 30-60 minutes by road to the marinas depending on which one and the traffic. For Ko Chang, fly into Bangkok, then it's a road transfer of around five hours plus a short car-ferry to the island — plan a night in Bangkok either side rather than doing it all in one go.

Bring your sailing CV and qualifications for bareboat check-in. Provisioning is easy at both bases — supermarkets near the marinas, or we can arrange a provisioning list in advance. Message us on WhatsApp with your dates and crew and we'll sort the details.